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Emily Dodds | Lakota Young Professionals

Emily Dodds

BIO

“Two Years ago, I bought a 4 year old bay roan filly that was just broke enough to hope on every once in a while and to be used as a buddy horse. Her name is Brandy Boonsmart and we call her Brandy. Our intention was to by a finished barrel horse that I could learn on, not the other way around. However, she was at the barn I rode at and I knew it was meant to be. She was a pasture horse used as a buddy horse and wasn’t too sure about people. I walked into her stall and she began following me around like a puppy, and we couldn’t say no. She was a real cowy horse, so we put her in training to be a cow horse, with hopes of one day begin barrel racing. Neither one of us had any idea what we were doing, but we both had the heart to do it. No trainer, just for fun. I began going to some races and completely loved it! We went through our challenges, but we grew together. We went from the very bottom of the 4D to the middle of the 2D and top of the 3D. Just a little while ago, we clicked an 18.1 on a pattern a little bit shorter than a standard and words cannot explain how proud I was and still am.
My Name is Emily Dodds and I live in Chico, California. I am 14 1/2 years old and I began riding when I was 6 years old. I starting showing Arabian horses in Class A showing and showed them for a little over 6 years. I decided I wanted to get into barrel racing after I watched my friend at some of her races. I am attending Chico High School as a freshman. I am a straight A student and have maintained straight A’s my entire academic career. In Junior High, I was involved in Leadership and California Junior Scholarship Federation (CJSF). In high school, I plan to be involved in California Scholarship Federation (CSF) and Future Farmers of America (FFA). I absolutely love animals and I always choose the best for my animals. I am very interested in working in the medical field when I grow up weather it be with animals or people. One thing I really believe in and try to live by is “”kill it with kindness””. When I am faced with a difficult situation, my response is to find something positive and using that to make the situation better. Something else I like to live by is “”leaving things better than you found them””. I like this one because it’s not just things, it’s people you meet, places you see, and animals you touch. My goal is to always work hard and find how I can make them better.”